Combined turntable and elevator for vehicles



Nov. 9,1926. 1,606,654

A. C. MENGES COMBINED TURNTABLE AND ELEVATOR FOR VEHICLES Filed Dec. 19, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 9, 1926. Y 1,606,654

A. C. MENGES COMBINED TURNTABLE AND ELEVATOR FOR VEHICLES Filed Dec. 19, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 In q 77Z5e Z0ZWen ye6 0 ia Patented Nov. 9, 1926.

UNITED STATES.

ALBERT C. MENGES, OI MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE.

COMBINED TURNTABLE AND ELEVATOR FOB VEHICLES.

Application Med December 19, 1925. Serial No. 78,402.

This invention relates to a combined elevator and turntable for vehicles and has for an important objectthereof the provision of an electrically operated device of this character having means for automatically checking movement of the elevator upon its arrival at a predetermined height.

A further object of the invention is the rendered stronger-and more durable in serv- 7 ice and niorefacile in its operation.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a turntable structure adapted for the reception of vehicles having a track such that the vehicle is guided thereby.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved switching mechanism for controlling the motor.

These and other objects I attain by the construction shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustrationis shown a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein Figure 1 is a plan view of a hoist constructed in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view therethrough;

Figure 3*is a. section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2; 1

Figures 4, 5 and 6 are sectional views taken through difierent. forms of track for use upon the hoist;

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view of the control switching mechanism;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view showing the manner of elevating the head.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numerals 10 and 11 indicate spaced trackways adapted to receive wheels at the opposite sides of a vehicle, these trackways being each of substantially J shape in cross sectionand having their high walls 13 arranged at corresponding sides thereof. These side walls may be arranged either at the inner or outer side of the trackway, as is found desirable, but are preferably arranged at the outer side thereof, as indicated. I

These trackways may be produced in any of the manners indicated in Figures 4, 5, and 6. These trackways are connected by a pair of substantially V-shaped braces 14, each brace being formed of an eye beam and having one end of each arm thereof connected to each trackway. The bight portions of the braces 14 provide means for supporting a hollow casting 15, the bottom of which is formed in its under surface with a socket 16, the upper wall 17 of which provides the seat of a worm gear 18. This worm gear 18 meshes with a worm 19 upon a shaft 20 projecting to one side of the casing'and is operated from a motor 21. The casting 15 has a removable cover 22 permitting access to the interior thereof.

Mounted in a suitable base is a housing 23, the upper end of which projects slightly above the upper surface of the base and has secured thereto b pins 24 .a wear collar 25. The lower end 0 the housing is formed by a cap 26, the upper surface of which has inner and outer upwardly projecting circular flanges 27 and 28, the flange 28 being rigidly secured to the housing. The inner surface of this flange has an inwardly projecting lug 29', the purpose of which will presently appear.

Rotatably mounted upon the wear ring is a ring 30 having a flange 31 projecting into the interior of the casing. This flange has upon its outer face a groove 32 into which the ends of the pins 24 project to hold the flange and ring 30 against vertical movement. S lined within the ring 30, as at 33, is a tu e 34, the upper end of which extends into the socket 16 and is secured to the side walls thereof, as at 35. The lower end of this tube is provided with a guide ring 36 slidably and rotatably engaging the interior wall of the casing 23.

Rotatably abutting the upper faceof the plate 26 and held against movement by the central flange 27 thereof is a second tube 37, the lower end of which .is provided with an outstanding lug 38 for coaction with the lug 29 in a manner, hereinafter to appear. The upper end of this tube has a cap 40 including a nut 41 through which is directed a threaded jack shaft 42, the upper end of the threaded portion of which abuts the under surface of the top wall 17 of the socket through a thrust block 43. This shaft has a reduced extension 44 projecting 18, as at 45.

, connected with the short arm therefore, the nut will tend'to rotate with the shaft with theresult that the tube 37 to which this nut is secured will be likewise rotated until its lug 38 comes into engagement with the lug 29 of thebottom plate 26 of the housing. In this interval, the motor will have been enabled to pick up suflicient speed for proper operation and the hoisting action will begin. After the hoisting has been discontinued, if the direction of operation of the motor is reversed, the same oper-v ation will take place before the motor again applies its action to lower the elevator.

It will be obvious that some means must be provided for immediately checking the movement of the elevator when it has reached a predetermined height and for transmitting current to the motor and at the same time provide for rotation of the device when employed as a turntable. To this end, I attach to the ring 30 which is splined to the tube 34 and, therefore, rotates with the elevator structure a ring or other support 49 for conductors 50 corresponding in num her to the leads of the motor. From the wear ring 25, I support a member 51 having brushes 52 corresponding in number and arrangement to the conductors 50 and bearing thereagainst to transmit current to these conductors. From the conductors, current is led to the motor through a control switch 53, and a manually operated switch 54. The

control switch 53 provides means for cutting off the current when the motor reaches I a predetermined height while the manually operated switch provides means for stopping the same at any height of the elevator. The switch 53 is more fully shown in Fig ure 7. This switch comprises a vertically disposed bar 55 slidably directed through a vertical bore 56 formed in the ring 30 and flange 31 thereof, the vertical position of this bar being controlled by a rotatable shaft 57 mounted in a suitable bearing 58 carried by the ring and having at its inner end a pinion 59 meshing with a rack 60 formed on the side of the bar 55. One end of this bar projects below the lower end of the ring flange 31 and into the path of the guide ring 36 of the sleeve 34. The upper end of the bar is arranged in the path of the lower face of the casting 15 so that as the elevator is being raised, the bar, after a predetermined upper travel of the elevator, will also be raised and as the elevator is bein lowered, the bar, after a predetermined downward travel thereof, will be depressed. This bar has attached thereto a cross arm 61 having arranged thereon four contacts 62, 63, 642 and 65. Two sets of brushes are provided which will hereinafter be referred to as the upper and lower sets. The lower set includes a pair of brushes 66 and 67 which, when the rod is in its lowered position, simultaneously engages with the contact 62 and brushes 68 and 69 which, at this time, simultaneously engage with the contact 64. The upper set includes brushes 70 and 71 contacting with the contact 63 when the bar is in its raised position and contacts 72 and 73 engaging with the contact when the arm is in its raised position. The brushes 67 and are connected to the input by a conductor 74 while the brushes 69 and 72 are connected to the second input lead 75. The brushes 66 and 73 are connected to one motor lead 76 while the brushes 68 and 71 are connected to the second motor lead 77.

- It will be obvious that when the bar is in its raised position, current will be conducted to the motor in the opposite direction from the direction in which it will travel if the bar is in its lowered position. If, therefore, the shaft 57 is actuated to lower the rod 55, current will pass to the motor and operate the same in a direction causing the elevator to rise and after it hasrisen a certain distance, the rod 55 will be engaged by the flange 36, breaking the circuit and stopping the motor. When it is desired to lower the I motor, the shaft 57 ,is manipulated to operate the rod and the elevator will then descend and in its descent engage the rod, causing the I circuit to be broken when a predetermined low level has been reached.

It will. of course, be obvious that the the spirit of the invention and I accordingly do not limit myself to such specific structure except as hereinafter claimed. s

I claim vehicles, the structure including vehicle receiving tracks, a jack structure engaged with the structure centrally thereof including a hoisting shaft-and a nut through which the shaft isthreaded, means carried by the first named structure for rotating the shaft and a support for the nut permitting limited ,rotation thereof.

2. In a combined jack and turntable for vehicles, the structure including vehicle re- .ceiving tracks, a jack structure engaged with the structure centrally thereof includinga hoisting shaft and a nut through which the 1. In a combinedijack and turntable for i .means carried by the ring shaft is threaded, means carried by the first named structure for rotating the shaft, a support for the nut permitting limited rotation thereof including a sleeve surrounding the shaft and to which the nut is secured, a plate having a central projection about which the sleeve is rotatably mounted, a lug carried by the outer surface of the sleeve at the lower end thereof and a coacting lug carried by the plate.

3. In a combined jack and turntable for vehicles, the structure including vehicle receiving tracks, a jack structure engaged with the first named structure centrally thereof including a hoisting shaft and a stationary nut through which the shaft is directed, a motor carried by the first named structure for rotating the shaft, a housing sleeve preventing the entry of dust and dirt to said shaft during elevation of the first named structure and supported thereby, a stationary collar, a ring rotatable in the collar and to which the sleeve is splined and coacting and collar for transmitting current to sai motor.

4. In a combined jack and turntable for vehicles, the structure including vehicle re ceiving tracks, a jack structure engaged with the first named structure centrally thereof including a hoisting shaft and a stationary nut through which the shaft is directed, a motor carried by the first named structure for rotating the shaft, a housing sleeve preventing the entry of dust and dirt to said shaft durin elevation of the first named structure an supported thereby, a stationary collar, a ring rotatable in the collar and to which the sleeve is splined and a switch for said motor including a blade element having a rod vertically slidable through said ring, said sleeve being provided with a flange engaging the lower end ofthe rod upon a predetermined elevation of the structure, said structure engaging the upper end of the rod when the structure has been lowered to a predetermined de ree.

In testimony w ereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

ALBERT C. MENGES. 

